St. Francis Xavier Cabrini took to heart Jesus’ greatest commandment to love God and love one’s neighbor by tending to those most in need — children, the sick, orphans and “most of all” immigrants, said New York Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan July 13. “Her work still goes on and her work is more essential than ever today,” he said during a celebration of a Mass at the St. Francis Xavier Cabrini Shrine in New York City in honor of her 169th birthday.

The saint, also called Mother Cabrini, is the patroness of immigrants and refugees. An Italian American, she was born July 15, 1850, She founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a religious community that was a major support to the Italian immigrants to the United States. She was the first U.S. citizen to be canonized.